Calling It Now, Pilot 2 (featuring Linkara)

One thing I just thought of: you should visually display the score counter, and maybe have a "ding" sound effect when they gain a point (and multiple, quick dings for multiple points?). Adding them in post would make it easier than doing them live maybe. Also, I'm glad you prompted questions throughout. You said that Linkara could stop your description and said "Callin' it Now", but aside from after you explained that he could do that and he jokingly said he was calling that it was those who hunt trolls, he never tried. I'm guessing he didn't want to interrupt your description. Somaybe focus on prompting for questions would be better, since that worked really well.

Will Herrmann

" I wonder if the game show format would allow for you reviewing shows you already know a fair amount about, provided your guests don't." This was something that had distantly occurred to me, too, and I'm glad someone else voiced it. Especially considering I had been realizing the next patron request I would offer is probably one you've heard of, and might have to try a couple to find one otherwise. Doing it this way with someone who has never actually watched anime as your special guest during those points could really work out, because as I mentioned above, reading these things aloud makes even 'normal' anime sound insane. .... admittedly, you had some deliciously insane ones to work with this time. :)

Trey McGowan

I think this format works pretty well, but I think it would be better if the video was at least somewhat in sync with what you are talking about. For instance, you describe the opening with the elf lady holding the knife and the book, but that footage doesn't appear until a couple of minutes later. As such, I'm trying to visualize the scene on your first description, then when it later appears, I'm distracted trying to match that up with what I heard earlier and not paying attention to what you're saying right then. Otherwise, the format works great. I wonder if the game show format would allow for you reviewing shows you already know a fair amount about, provided your guests don't.

Will Herrmann

i kinda like the gameshow aspect to it. but i do agree with trey

Mark Dean

I second everything Trey McGowan said to keep this short and because I would basically be saying the same things he said. But to add this was way more fun to listen to than just you doing a v-log style recap and would definitely want to see more in the future.

Animeguy1101

I personally don't care for podcasts, as my interests strictly involve formal reviews, so I am not the target audience. If anything, I'm of the impression that this is a waste of time. Sorry, but that's just me.

Major glitch in the upload at 31:10 that interrupts the play until 31:27.

Trey McGowan

I'm not far in, but I wanted to get my thought out as a 'first impression', as a lot of people will probably react in the first few minutes. As a podcast, it's got the allowance to be longer, which works in your favor. However, my big concern is that you're putting a whole lot of video in it, even if the audio isn't there. As in, nearly the whole episode. I have concerns over copyright strikes on that much use, even if they're letterboxed and the video's audio is completely stripped out. It also might both be easier to render *and* easier to edit if you cut down the video clips to some of the 'high points' as you talk about them, or to help punctuate the Q&A portions (for instance, if you were asking about a character's description, let the person either be on the screen so the audience knows, or pop the scene on screen after the guesses to show us what the answer was). The podcast style of it is good, in that it lets me potentially listen to it/them on the go, and the video that you added is not important to either the jokes *or* the story, but instead is more helping the audience visualize parts that you're describing (although part of the fun is the fact that hearing these things said aloud makes *anything* sound ridiculous, because anime). Plus, if having someone to talk with, I.E. your special guest, helps you relax and enjoy what you're doing, and both of you are having fun with it, that makes it even better. You've got some echo/reverb going on; that should be an easy fix, though. As a pilot, I call this 'good proof of concept', and I would listen to the next few to see how it goes, who you get, how you bounce off one another, et cetera. It has some growing to do, for sure, but I think a good part of that is because of this being a completely new format for you and new concept *period*.

Trey McGowan

I feel like this would work best as a podcast, seeing as it's generally discussing the anime series. I'm not sure how I feel about the gameshow aspect, but I like the idea of having other people discussing the series with you in each episode.

Joey Bennett